Grand Canyon ongoing opening depends on state cash

Hundreds of tourists flock to Grand Canyon Airport to take helicopter and plane tours as the only way they could see the Grand Canyon as the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park remains closed to visitors due to the continued federal government shutdown on Friday Oct. 11, 2013, in Tusayan, Ariz.

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

PHOENIX - Arizona will have to send more cash to the federal government by late Wednesday if Congress still hasn't passed a budget and the state wants the Grand Canyon National Park to remain open this coming weekend.

The state is paying $93,000 a day to keep the park open for seven days ending Friday. The agreement Gov. Jan Brewer struck with the federal government last Friday must be extended at least 48 hours before it expires if the canyon is to stay open.

Brewer spokesman Andrew Wilder says a decision will be made as the deadline approaches. It will depend on available state, local and private funds and what's happening with budget negotiations in Washington.

The park closed Oct. 1 when Congress failed to pass a budget to fund government operations.